Sandy Fire Update
I was watching the Sandy Fire closely. Not that I live in the evacuation zone. I was worried about the very real potential of radioactive smoke blowing straight into my neighborhood and into my home.
CalFire map of the Sandy Fire with an overlay of the SSFL
I didn’t know better back in 2018 when the Woolsey Fire burned through the Santa Susana Field Lab (SSFL). Then we saw an outbreak of terminal brain cancers by people exposed to the Woolsey Fire smoke. Two years later an independent study found radioactive ash and smoke had spread from the SSFL because of the fire. For me, it went from fear to undeniable fact- smoke and ash from the Santa Susana Field Lab can be radioactive.
But I didn’t know what we could do about it.
We’ve spent over ten years educating the community about the risks of the SSFL because the Department of Toxic Substances Control still refuses to publicly acknowledge the risks. The Santa Susana Field Lab’s “Responsible Parties,” Boeing, NASA, and the Department of Energy, are cutting back their cleanup obligations in order to save money. The people and agencies meant to protect us are failing us. To be honest, I didn’t know if our work was making a real difference.
Then, while the Sandy Fire was still burning, and as I was considering if I needed to get my family away from the smoke, my friend sent me this text, “...my mind is blown that the Ventura County fire department just posted this! You’re winning!!! You are literally saving lives!!!!! I’m so proud and grateful!!!”
The screenshot of a social media post by the Ventura County Fire Department acknowledged the risks and public concern of the Sandy Fire burning through the radioactive area at the Santa Susana Field Lab. They responded by taking taking deliberate action to keep the SSFL from catching fire, and monitoring the air quality, in order to protect the public from potentially radioactive smoke and ash. Several articles also showed the VCFD’s response to the fire.
The work Parents Against Santa Susana Field Lab is making a difference. People were protected from potential exposure to the SSFL’s radioactive ash and smoke because of our work.
